| Show CAPTURING A THE new york sun publishes the following gr iphia account of a hand band to hand encounter with a desperado and his capture by a deputy U S marshal in west virginia keyser W va nov 12 deputy united states marshal 0 0 miller arrived here a day or two ago having in charge a william fansler lie he lived with a number of others of his class about two hundred miles south of st george the county seat of tucker county and about 00 miles from the baltimore and ohio railroad and his chase and capture constitute one of the most remarkable episodes in the criminal annals of west virginia detective miller was compelled to follow his man for several weeks before he finally landed him in prison often at the risk of his 1 life and be detailed his experiences to your correspondent about as an follows fansler is a member of one of the most daring and successful gangs 0 moon shiners counterfeiters counterfeit ers and stock thieves that ever infested the mountains of west virginia their stamping ground was the canaan wilderness and contiguous portions of adjoining counties and their headquarters were established in the most inaccessible portion rt ion of the backbone trance range of fo mountains it is surrounded tor for miles on every side with laurel and timber standing so thick as to make an approach to it almost impossible except by a secret path which for a long lon time was known only to the cemers members of the gang here the members of the gang had for several years operated a splendidly equipped distillery with a capacity Spa city of eighty five gallons a day until they were betrayed some months ago by one of their own number who led a posse of government officials to the fort as it was called at a time when all the gang were away disposing of their stock of liquor at phill philippi P I 1 the e d detectives e tee tives left not one log of it t the thief harbor resting upon another and destroyed the still mash tub sand everything else of any value found about the premises the summary proceeding made home anything but sweet for the gang and they scat scattered ored being the only one who made any attempt to hold the fort and even he taking alarm at the activity of the officers retreated betre eted to what tie he called his mountain place about fifteen miles further south here he was traced by marshal miller who spent seven days in getting to the place from st george miller was fortunate enough to find fansler at home and walking suddenly in upon him told him the best thing he could do was to give himself up as he had men outside who would take him and resist resistance anee was useless surrendered and started off quietly with nis captor but when they had gone some distance without meeting any other officers fansler turned upon miller and a fierce fight ensued he was finally overpowered and everything every thinie went well until the dry fork of cheat divor was reached the two men started across the stream in a skiff but watching his chance caught the detective by the shoulders and threw him out of the boat fansler then jumped into the swift currel current lt himself and tried to escape but miller caught him bythe by the logs legs and he narrowly es being drowned again surrendered rendered ur and the two reached the shore hore fansler made no further effort t to 0 e escape a and isnow is now under look lock and key there rg ere are a re three bench warrants age against him and many capi ases and he in sure of a long term in the penitentiary tent iary A strange feature of the whole matter is that the members of this gang were noi nob vagabonds or criminals in lae common acceptation of those terms but all owned fine farms and a an an evidence of alis one of the party arrested some soine lime ago was released by united sta states judge jackson on bail I 1 is own lecog the queer and I 1 moonshine departments of the business were managed with skill and energy and they were assiduous and successful ua in their lite lire stock operations frequently stealing as an many as sheep or thirty or forty cattle at once many are the stories told uy by the people of randolph tucker and barbour count counties IOS of lh the wild orgies with which they celebrated at their camp in the mountains the successful issue of a raid of this kind on the barns and pastures of the farmers of that portion of the state slate until recently no attempt at punishing the outlaws ever succeeded as they were quick to take either legal or illegal ap proceedings roce edings to protect themselves |
